City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 1, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The July 1, 2013 meeting of the Geneva City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Kevin Burns. Aldermen present: Chuck Brown, Mike Bruno, Don Cummings, Dorothy Flanagan, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer, Dawn Vogelsberg. Aldermen absent: None. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, City Administrator Mary McKittrick, Asst. City Administrator/Dir. of Administrative Services Stephanie Dawkins, Community Development Director Dick Untch. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Approve the Mayor’s Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission Mayor Burns noted that he had a request to vote separately on the two appointees. Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Cummings to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Geri Schock Soderberg to the Historic Preservation Commission. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED Mayor Burns then invited Ms. Soderberg to provide some background on herself. Moved by Ald. Cummings, seconded by Ald. Vogelsberg to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Zac Ploppert to the Historic Preservation Commission. Ald. Bruno felt that Mr. Ploppert is coming to the HPC with an agenda to dilute the HPC and that there were other qualified candidates. Ald. Maladra noted that Mr. Ploppert’s stated perspective is shared by other Geneva residents and that that perspective should be part of the HPC. He also noted that the HPC operates within a strictly-defined structure of the U.S. Interior Department. Ald. Bruno felt that being an advisory body, members of the HPC should be preservationists. Mayor Burns responded that he felt the strength of Geneva is bringing together those with differing opinions, who then work together to find the best resolutions. Roll call: AYES: 8 (Ald. Brown, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 2 (Ald. Bruno, Flanagan) MOTION CARRIED AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA Ald. Cummings requested that item 7a (June excise [telecom] tax report) be removed from the Omnibus Agenda for separate consideration. OMNIBUS AGENDA All items listed on the Omnibus Agenda are considered to be routine by the Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member or citizen so requests in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda. 1207 Geneva City Council Meeting July 1, 2013 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve the Omnibus Agenda as amended. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD JUNE 17, 2013 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED APPROVE REPORTS Having requested removal of item 7a (June excise [telecom] tax report), Ald. Cummings, noting the decrease in cell phone charges, correlated the possible decrease in telecom excise taxes. Admin. McKittrick said that all local distributive funds are anticipated to decline as reflected in the budget due to the State retaining a greater portion of those funds. She said that all local revenue streams need to be considered, including user fees. Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Vogelsberg to approve the June excise (telecom) report. Carried unanimously by voice vote. Other reports remained on the Omnibus Agenda and were previously approved in that action. COUNCIL COMMITTEES Committee of the Whole July 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: General Fund $43,229.05 Cultural Arts Fund 353.20 Beautification Fund 4,892.57 Tourism Fund 1,331.27 Tri-Com Fund 6,719.53 Mental Health Fund 281.25 SSA #1 2,603.24 SSA #4 1,163.97 SSA #5 674.44 SSA #7 203.63 SSA #9 104.21 SSA #18 116.48 SSA #23 73.94 SSA #26 421.84 General Capital Projects 15,392.87 Infrastructure Capital Projects 7,325.00 Prairie Green 1,190.00 TIF #2 30,544.08 Electric 244,447.30 Water/Wastewater 478,726.04 Refuse 2,134.57 Cemetery 1,000.00 1208 Geneva City Council Meeting July 1, 2013 Commuter Parking 1,373.64 Group Dental 5,585.40 __________ Total Funds $849,887.52 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Flanagan that the bills be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Resolution 2013-71 Declaring Surplus Property – Public Works Vehicle #86 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2013-72 Declaring Surplus Property – Street Sweeper Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2013-73 Extending Conditional Site Plan Approval at 2202 Gary Lane (Martin Farm Holdings) Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2013-74 Authorizing Execution of Ride In Kane New Freedom/JARC Service Agreement. Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS Request for More Information on Mayoral Appointees Ald. Bruno proposed that at the next Committee of the Whole fifth-Monday special meeting a discussion of the appointment process be included in terms of what information on appointees should be made public so as to better inform Council members prior to voting. Mayor Burns said that it would take a change in city ordinance to revise the appointment process. Ald. Bruno added that he did not feel that he was sufficiently informed before voting on mayoral appointments. Ald. Brown said that it is useful to know the names of all applicants lest the unsuccessful applicants ask for an explanation. Ald. Vogelsberg and Ald. Flanagan also appreciated knowing the names of all applicants. Ald. Bruno asked if applicants’ names could be provided to Council members a week in advance. Mayor Burns said that he would most likely still be interviewing applicants at that point. He also felt that it would be problematic for Council members to speak with applicants before the Mayor makes known his appointments. Ald. Maladra pointed out that Council members are not part of the interviewing process, saying that receiving information just prior to the meeting should be sufficient. Ald. Kilburg said it would be helpful if nominees were invited to come before the Committee of the Whole for 1209 Geneva City Council Meeting July 1, 2013 questions and discussion. Mayor Burns felt that if nominees were called to appear for questioning before the Council, the number of those volunteering for committees or commissions would greatly diminish. City Intervention Regarding Property Neglect Ald. Flanagan would like to have a discussion at a fifth-Monday COW special meeting regarding greater city control in having absentee landlords or property owners maintain their property. Admin. McKittrick responded that there is little the City can do at this point. Ald. Flanagan suggested asking absentee owners to attend a session on property upkeep. Admin. McKittrick said the City could put on a workshop in this regard but predicted attendance would be poor. She added, however, that the City’s code enforcement officer effectively contacts and works with individual property owners. She also said it is difficult to locate absentee landlords and get them to cooperate. In response to several comments, Admin. McKittrick stated that current city codes are broad enough to cover State statutory changes, including those related to foreclosures. Ald. Singer said that he and Ald. Flanagan have taken it upon themselves to maintain certain properties within their ward, but he worried about liability issues in so doing. Admin. McKittrick recommended that they contact appropriate city staff regarding any instances that arise. Ald. Flanagan cited a specific instance of neglect in her ward brought on by a foreclosure, with Admin. McKittrick encouraging Council members to come forward with any ideas on how to legally deal with these situations, considering the City’s non-home-rule status. CLOSED SESSION ON PENDING LITIGATION Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Marks that the Council adjourn to Closed Session. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 7:56 p.m. Moved by Ald. Vogelsberg, seconded by Ald. Flanagan that the Council return to Open Session. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Simonian, Singer, Vogelsberg) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED The Council returned to Open Session at 8:16 p.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Simonian to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk 1210